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British signaller served with 212 Bty, 64th Medium Regt, Royal Artillery in GB and Egypt, 1939-1941; served with 7th Medium Regt in Egypt, Greece and Crete, 1941-1942; served with 211 Bty, 64th MR, RA in Middle East, Sicily, Italy and GB 1942-1944: served with unit administering POW camps in Belgium, 1944-1945

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REEL 1 Recollections of background in Muswell Hill, London, 1918-1939: education at Highgate School; approach of war; work as bank clerk. Recollections of recruitment and training with 212 Bty, 64th Medium Regt, Royal Artillery in GB, 3/1939-11/1940: enlistment; selection for training as specialist gunner and studying mathematics of gunnery at polytechnic; call up, 1/9/1939; food rations; role guarding railways; billets in Edgware; move to Berkhamstead; 6" howitzers; firing camp at Redesdale; role as specialist assistant; false alarm of German invasion; preparations for overseas posting. Voyage aboard Otranto to Port Said, Egypt, 11/1940-1/1941: sailing in convoy; conditions; visit to Freetown, Sierra Leone and Durban, South Africa. Period at Mena Camp, Egypt, 1/1941-2/1941: visits to Pyramids and Cairo; hospitalisation with elephantitis. Recollections of operations with 7th Medium Regt, RA in Egypt, Greece and Crete, 1941-1942: joining unit, ca 3/1941; opinion of regulars; move to Greece; taking up positions in Mount Olympus sector; shortage of ammunition; Stuka attacks; story of digging slit trenches for officers; move south; German air attacks on convoy; loss of touch with unit; period in Argos Bay sector.
REEL 2 Continues: evacuation by Greek fishing boat out to destroyer; voyage aboard destroyer to disembark at Suda Bay, Crete; move by destroyer to Heraklion; ammunition unloaded from submarines; German reconnaissance of shore line; German air attacks; food; German air attacks; firing small arms at German parachutists dropping on Heraklion; strafing from German aircraft; failure of German parachute attack; evacuation by destroyer; sinking of destroyer after German air attack; rescue by HMS Orion; firing Bren gun during German air attacks; bomb damage; fatigue; reception on arrival at Alexandria; refusal to act as officer's servant and question of being charged with disobeying order; hospitalisation with effects of insect bites; story of being asked to write report on conduct of operations in Greece and Crete and subsequent monetary payment to avoid repeating charges. Recollections of operations with 211 Bty, 64th Medium Regt, RA in Middle East 1942-1943: operations in Syria; hospitalisation after injury on leave in Cairo; convalescent leave in Valley of Kings; rejoining unit; move to Iraq; move to Egypt/Libya border; role guarding ammunition dump; firing along coastal road; retreat to Mersa Matruh; breakout and retreat through desert. REEL 3 Continues: success in reaching British lines; briefing from Montgomery; gun programme for preliminary bombardment for Battle of El Alamein, 10/1942; observation post duty; commencement of barrage, 23/10/1942; hospitalisation with hepatitis in Cairo, 11/1942. Period at Base Depot, Royal Artillery, Almaza, ca 12/1942-7/1943. Recollections of operations with 211 Bty, 64th Mr, RA in Sicily and Italy, 7/1943-10/1943: background to rejoining unit at Mount Etna; firing across Messina Straits; unopposed landing at Reggio; return to Mount Etna. Voyage via Algeria to GB, 10/1943-11/1943. Period in Felixstowe, ca 12/1943-9/1944: leave; meeting wife and marriage; medical downgrading. Period attached to unit forming German POW camps in Belgium, ca 9/1944-9/1945: initial minimal duties; POW camp established near Brussels; use of POWs as clerks recording details of POWs held; treatment of POWs; question of escapes; VE Day, 8/5/1945. Demobilisation, 9/1945. Post-war career: return to work in bank; effects of war service; question of contacts with old comrades.

Over two million American servicemen passed through Britain during the Second World War. In 1944, at the height of activity, up to half a million were based there with the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF). Their job was to man and maintain the vast fleets of aircraft needed to attack German cities and industry.